Gusto on the Beach is back. The former South Curl Curl café has taken on a 10-year lease (with the option to renew for an additional five years) at the former Beach Shed at Dee Why beach. With the current fit-out taking place, the aim is to open on the Easter long weekend.
“We’re at that stage of being super excited,” Lisa Cremin, co-owner, told Manly Observer.
“After not winning the tender at South Curl Curl, we took six months off and then set up Gusto on the Green at Balgowlah Golf Club, which we’ve been steadily building.”
It seems everything happens for a reason. Gusto on the Green has space and capacity to do more, which is why Lisa and her husband, Brendan, put their hands up for Dee Why.
“We are going to use our current staff and equipment in Balgowlah to do all the food prep and bring that food here because there are cooking restrictions at this site,” Lisa added.
As part of the Development Application for the venue, Gusto on the Beach can only toast, reheat and boil.
“We won’t be able to make our famous Gusto Bacon and Egg Roll, but most of the food will be made in-house and brought from the Balgowlah kitchen to Dee Why,” Lisa explained.
“My daughter makes our sweet treats, like our much-loved oat slice, and we will have breaky wraps and focaccias, salads and, during the winter months, our homemade soups. We’ll also have smashed avocados, and all those loved dishes.”
And of course, coffee. Which we hear Dee Why beach walkers are so desperate for, they’re asking the construction workers when they’ll be able to place their order.
Once open, the café will operate seven days a week, with a 6:30am start (Mondays to Saturdays) and 7am start on Sundays. The café will close at 5pm, which is good news for those needing an arvo caffeine hit or for the kids up at the playground needing an icy pole.
“We’ve missed the South Curl Curl community feel, and we are really looking forward to getting to know our Dee Why customers and developing a friendly community vibe,” Lisa said.
What about the storm surges?
The former Beach Shed saw two café owners forced out due to financial losses associated with damage caused by storm surges. (You can read more about that here.)
“We know about beach weather from when we operated out of South Curl Curl, but at the same time, we know what we are taking on with this lease,” Lisa explained.
“We’ve used fibre cement sheeting and marine-grade stainless steel for the fit-out inside, and we plan on saving during the good times to prepare for the bad times when we might have to replace surf-damaged equipment which will be a costly expense.”
Prior to the tender, Council improved the condition and security of the venue. These included guttering repairs, replacement of external tiling, upgrades to doors and windows, and the installation of heavy-duty roller shutters (last year’s storm surge smashed through the shutters).
While Council is responsible for the building’s external structure; Gusto on the Beach is responsible for anything internal, including if it gets damaged by waves and salt water during a storm event.
“Council has agreed that if we are damaged by a storm surge, while we can’t operate because we are cleaning and repairing, we won’t be charged rent, which is really helpful,” Lisa added.
There is also the question about locals who would prefer to see the building go back to its former days as a storage facility for the lifeguards and life savers.
However, at the March 2025 Council meeting, it was determined that the use of the building as a kiosk was in the community’s best interest.
Enjoy your seaside cuppa! (soon)
Read more:
Saving their bacon: Dee Why seafront café not facing closure, but
